Episodes

  • #45: Robot coyote prototype blends engineering with natural world expertise

    #45: Robot coyote prototype blends engineering with natural world expertise
    Feb 10 2026
    Bird strikes are a persistent and costly threat to aviation safety. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, more than 13,000 strikes are reported in the U.S. each year, costing hundreds of millions in damages and endangering both civilian and military aircraft. We are joined by ERDC’s Dr. Jake Jung and Dr. Brian Washburn with the U.S. Department of Agriculture – both research wildlife biologists – to discuss how these two organizations are working to develop innovative tools and techniques to address this complex problem. Among the innovations discussed is the “robot coyote,” a ground-based drone that has shown tremendous potential in helping manage the vast spaces of civilian and military airfields, keeping people and aircraft safe. Watch a video of this podcast on our website at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/45-robot-coyote_video. You can also see additional resources at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/45-robot-coyote_resources. Bird strikes are a persistent and costly threat to aviation safety. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, more than 13,000 strikes are reported in the U.S. each year, costing hundreds of millions in damages and endangering both civilian and military aircraft. We are joined by ERDC’s Dr. Jake Jung and Dr. Brian Washburn with the U.S. Department of Agriculture – both research wildlife biologists – to discuss how these two organizations are working to develop innovative tools and techniques to address this complex problem. Among the innovations discussed is the “robot coyote,” a ground-based drone that has shown tremendous potential in helping manage the vast spaces of civilian and military airfields, keeping people and aircraft safe. Watch a video of this podcast on our website at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/45-robot-coyote_video. You can also see additional resources at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/45-robot-coyote_resources.
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    36 mins
  • #44: Frontline Robotics: Enabling safer execution of one of the Army’s most dangerous tasks

    #44: Frontline Robotics: Enabling safer execution of one of the Army’s most dangerous tasks
    Feb 3 2026
    Combat engineers perform some of the military’s most dangerous duties, from breaching obstacles and clearing minefields to constructing front-line defensive positions while under enemy assault. ERDC’s Robotics for Engineer Operations – or REO – program is helping them do so safely. REO develops robotic capabilities that allow combat engineers to operate from safe standoff distances. These wide-ranging autonomous and teleoperated systems reduce risk while also multiplying force capacity and providing autonomous reconnaissance. We discuss REO with Dr. Ahmet Soylemezoglu, systems engineer at ERDC’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory and REO project lead. Topics include how REO began and its evolution (1:05), the challenges of incorporating autonomy in a combat environment (11:43) and how the effort benefits from the diverse skillsets of its team members (14:58). We also talk about industry and academic partnerships (20:48), lessons learned from field demonstrations (24:48), emergency response applications (28:31) and efforts to incorporate multi-machine teaming (31:52). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/44-REO_video. You can also see additional resources at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/44-REO_resources. For inquiries about REO, email ERDCinfo@usace.army.mil.
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    40 mins
  • #43: Strengthening the joint force with mechanics-based pavement innovation

    #43: Strengthening the joint force with mechanics-based pavement innovation
    Jan 27 2026
    When most people think about the military being ready for the fight, they picture aircraft and vehicles, not the pavements beneath them. We talk with Dr. Jeremy Stache, a research civil engineer at ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, about why pavement science is essential to military mobility and power projection. Topics include the direct connection between pavement science and Army mobility (:52), the shift to mechanics-based models for pavement design (9:25), and the ability to model buried structures and risk (11:10). We also discuss how the research translates into helping commanders understand whether a runway is safe to use (17:43), how it supported the Army 250th Birthday parade (19:53), and how sensors and artificial intelligence will support next-generation decision making (24:51). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at PowerofERDCpodcast.org/43-pavement-research_video. For additional information, visit PowerofERDCpodcast.org/43-pavement-research_resources.
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    28 mins
  • #42 Constructing AI’s Future

    #42 Constructing AI’s Future
    Jan 20 2026
    Artificial intelligence is no longer science fiction. Today, AI is powering critical processes across the Department of War and serving as a force multiplier throughout the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' military and civil works portfolios. In this episode of the Power of ERDC podcast, Dr. Robert Moser, director of ERDC’s Information Technology Laboratory, discusses how ERDC is developing AI tools, techniques and technologies into tangible, mission-ready solutions for the nation. Moser also provides an inside look at AI in action — from practical applications like the AI model Jobsite Assisted Quality Intelligence, or JAQI, used for construction management to the visionary concept of an "AI wingman" for the modern Warfighter. Watch the video of this podcast on our website at PowerofERDCpodcast.org/42-artificial-intelligence_video. For additional information, visit PowerofERDCpodcast.org/42-artifical-intelligence_resources.
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    40 mins
  • #41: Antarctic Expertise: ‘Explorer’ has helped shape, advance cold regions engineering

    #41: Antarctic Expertise: ‘Explorer’ has helped shape, advance cold regions engineering
    Jan 13 2026
    George Blaisdell’s career is one for the record books. His contributions to engineering in one of the world’s most inhospitable environments are legendary, but for a man with more than 30 trips to Antarctica, the work is far from over. Today’s guest is Blaisdell, a research civil engineer with ERDC’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory. We discuss the importance of a constant engineering and research presence in the Antarctic and Blaisdell’s lasting impact on that continent through a variety of leadership roles for ERDC and the National Science Foundation. Among his many recognitions, Blaisdell was recently accepted into the prestigious Explorers Club, whose members include Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, the first to reach the top of Mount Everest, and Neil Armstrong, the first to walk on the moon. Watch a video of this podcast on our website at PowerofERDCpodcast.org/41-antarctic-expertise_video. For additional information, visit PowerofERDCpodcast.org/41-antarctic-expertise_resources.
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    30 mins
  • #40: Engineering at the water's edge: Advancing capabilities through modeling, autonomy and industry partnerships

    #40: Engineering at the water's edge: Advancing capabilities through modeling, autonomy and industry partnerships
    Jan 6 2026
    Dr. Gaurav Savant, Senior Scientific Technical Manager at the ERDC Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, discusses how ERDC is transforming military and civil operations through advanced modeling, AI and autonomous systems. From ensuring safe wet gap crossings for Warfighters to revolutionizing water resource management, these innovations are reshaping the future of defense and engineering. Topics include Savant's role as a Fulbright Specialist and how that program fosters global collaboration (:42), the ConAer project for expeditionary logistics and last-mile tactical delivery (4:29), and technologies that enhance safety and effectiveness in wet gap crossings (11:44). We also talk about ERDC’s role in developing autonomous resupply and low-profile vessels (14:45), the evolving role computational fluid dynamics (CFD) plays with AI and quantum computing (17:35), and how industry and academic collaborations are driving innovation (22:04). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at PowerofERDCpodcast.org/40-engineering-waters-edge_video. For additional information, visit PowerofERDCpodcast.org/40-engineering-waters-edge_resources.
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    27 mins
  • #39: Global Forest Modeling Toolkit: Mission-critical intelligence about vegetation around the world

    #39: Global Forest Modeling Toolkit: Mission-critical intelligence about vegetation around the world
    Dec 30 2025
    Forests cover nearly a third of the Earth’s land surface and present multiple challenges to military forces. Dense trees restrict mobility, limit surveillance, impede air support and degrade communication. But not all forests are the same. To best counter these difficulties, leaders need detailed information about vegetation attributes, such as canopy cover, stem diameter and stem spacing. However, the available data for much of the planet’s forested regions is limited in coverage or detail, or both. To fill this gap, ERDC developed the Global Forest Modeling Toolkit, which supports the Warfighter with mission-critical intelligence about vegetation around the world. We discuss this toolkit with Dr. Nathan Beane, a senior research forester at ERDC’s Environmental Laboratory and lead of ERDC’s Forest Ecosystem Dynamics team. Topics include why the military needs vegetation data (3:55), what the Global Forest Modeling Toolkit is (1:44) and how the team built the capacity to estimate vegetation across the Earth (5:17). We also talked about converting the data into information that is useful for the Warfighter (12:35), how the toolkit can help the Army with environmental sensing and vehicle autonomy (14:02), and lessons learned from having Warfighters use the toolkit (21:10). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at PowerofERDCpodcast.org/39-global-forest-modeling_video. For additional information, visit PowerofERDCpodcast.org/39-global-forest-modeling_resources.
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    30 mins
  • #38: H2Rescue: Providing Power, Water and World Records

    #38: H2Rescue: Providing Power, Water and World Records
    Dec 23 2025
    Roughly the distance from New York to Miami – or 1,806 miles. That’s how far a vehicle, developed in part by ERDC, drove on one tank of hydrogen fuel to not only set a mark honored by the Guinness Book of World Records, but also to advance new and existing hydrogen-powered technologies. In this episode, we discuss the development, testing and performance of the H2Rescue vehicle with Nick Josefik, an industrial engineer at ERDC’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory. We also talk about the impact it can have in supporting emergency response efforts to natural and man-made disasters. Created to address many of the logistical challenges involved in any response, the H2Rescue vehicle – a 33,000-pound power plant on wheels – went from idea to reality in a few short years, becoming a world-class example of what power-providing emergency systems – powered by hydrogen – can deliver. Topics include the idea and mission behind the development of the H2Rescue Vehicle (02:39), details on the amount of power the vehicle can generate (04:37) and how this vehicle’s capabilities best fit in an emergency response scenario (05:59). We also discuss why hydrogen was the fuel of choice in the vehicle’s development (07:55); the federal, military and industry partners who worked together on the vehicle (11:21); and the behind-the-scenes details on how the team earned Guiness Book of World Records recognition (18:08). Watch the video of this podcast on our website at PowerofERDCpodcast.org/38-h2-rescue-vehicle_video. For additional information, visit PowerofERDCpodcast.org/38-h2-rescue-vehicle_resources.
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    29 mins